Monday, February 10, 2014

Meet the Wonderful Author Nicki Salcedo---*Giveaway*

One
of my favorite things is talking to other writers—I love to find out how they
think, their creativity and what they write. I met Nicki Salcedo a few years
ago; she’s cool under pressure, always has a smile, and one never knows exactly
what’s going to happen around her—Personally, I want to be on her side when the
Zombie apocalypse occurs because things will be done in style….

Let’s find out more about this fabulous writer!

What genres do
you write in? Why?

NS: I write book club fiction. All of my stories have a
romantic element, some end happier than others.I also dabble in sci-fi and paranormal. My first book was a historical
romance. I write everything. Writers are advised not to do that. So please keep
my secret! I might not write book length fiction in every genre, but a good
short story in another world or voice is like a palate cleanser before diving
into next longer project. All of my stories are about how we navigate complex
relationships.

MVF: I have never
heard a description of genre described as book club fiction—that is different.
I want to agree, but at the same time I want to say your writing is at times
hard to define (in a good way). To me your writing has a literary quality as
you weave your characters together—it is something to be savored but at the
same time one can’t read just one page…

What drew you to
your current story?

NS: I love reversals on fairy tales, and
I wanted to write something that might appeal to romance readers, literary
fiction readers, men, or women. ALL
BEAUTIFUL THINGS tackles social issues like how we perceive race or gender
or class. I hope my novel is entertaining, but I also hope the book generates
conversations.

MVF: I love reversals
of fairy tales and new spins—I know you have questions for this story. I find
this fascinating, you mentioned that you want to generate conversation, but did
you have these questions in mind when you wrote it? Or were these questions
generated after the writing?

NS: I started with the gender reversal.
What if the beauty was the man? What if the beast was the woman? The other
questions came along as I wrote and revised. How do our siblings impact us? Our
parents? What happens if the woman is the wealthy one and the hero had been
poor? I like questions, but I don’t want the story to have one answer for any
of the questions raised.

MVF: This is
intriguing—and I like that you want the reader to internally contemplate these
things.

How long did it
take you to write?

NS: It took me a short time to write this book. Maybe a few
months. The long part was revising. I’ve been revising this book on and off for
almost 9 years.

MVF: Wow! It’s like
you dived in and wrote it then stepped back. I think it’s wonderful you didn’t
give up on this story.

Tell us about
your story (blurb)

ALL BEAUTIFUL THINGS

Seven years ago, Ava Camden endured a vicious attack. She
survived, but her face was brutally scarred. Now Graham Sapphire is determined
to clear his brother’s name and win her trust in a desperate search for the
truth.

She’s the beast. He’s the beauty. It’s a love story with a
literary feel.

What was the
hardest thing to write in this story?

NS: I changed the original ending to include more suspense
and drama. My editor had complete faith in me and my characters. I honestly
walked around for days seeing the world through my main character’s eyes. Ava
needs to make a difficult decision, but I wanted it to be realistic. I hope
readers are surprised, because I was as I wrote the ending! It was hard to
write, but also good to see how far I could push my characters and my writing.

MVF: I love when that
happens—the surprise for yourself, and for your characters. Did you mourn
having to end this book?

NS: I didn’t mourn the end. I was so happy. I was thankful. I
love this story, but I need it to be released into the world so I can get
feedback from readers.

Name five books
that have influenced your writing:

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Beloved by
Toni Morrison

The Hours by
Michael Cunningham

Frankenstein by
Mary Shelly

Paradise by
Judith McNaught

MVF:You realize I am writing all these down.
I swear, I am going on a reading marathon….

Name five movies
that have influenced your creativity:

NS:You are going to think I’m kidding,
but I’m not!

Aliens

Amelie

Boomerang

Pride and Prejudice (BBC)

Terminator

MVF: These are
awesome! I have watched some of them…Aliens, Terminator, Pride and
Prejudice—love the BBC version! But Amelie and Boomerang don’t strike a chord—I’m
adding those to my Netflix queue…

NS: Boomerang is great. It’s another reversal type story.
Race and gender are central. It’s a comedy with Eddie Murphy. Amelie is a
French film. It’s like watching a poem of color filled with life observations.
You should watch both of them.

You are a Star
Trek Fan; Tell me, which Star Trek do you like the best: Original, the
spin-offs, or the brand new ones with Chris Pine?Or all three? Why?

NS: I still very much enjoy The Original Series. I’m letting
my kids watch it. All the colors and action. Phaser fights. Spock. Love all of
it. I also hold The Next Generation close to my heart. I’m a Worf girl, and
it’s impossible not to love Picard. He knows Shakespeare, AND he lives in outer
space. The new movies are wonderful, but the TV shows gave you a chance to
really get to know the characters. With the new movies I’m still Team Spock!

MVF: I remember
watching the original series as a kid and loving it; I will always have an
affection for it—(I have to admit my all-time favorite episodes of the original
Star Trek series was the “Trouble with Tribbles” and meeting Khan).Unfortunately I didn’t get exposed as much as
I wanted to the Next Generation (I was late to the show…). We totally should
have T-shirts made “Team Spock.”

If you could
meet any character in any book or movie who would it be and why?

NS:Boo Radley from To Kill A
Mockingbird. He watches everything. I imagine he would not say much, so we’d
just sit and watch the world together.

MVF: Wouldn’t that be
something? I like this and it makes me think myself—who would I just sit with?

You are one busy
woman, you have a family, a full time job, and so many things going on, how do
you write?Early morning, late at night?

NS: I write on the weekends. I don’t have any time during the
week. I might be able to write for an hour at night when all the stars align,
but my creativity is best during early morning hours.

MVF: You amaze me—I
have tried early mornings, it’s hit or miss. When you write only on weekends,
do you make notes during the week, ponder the story?

NS: Every free minute I have all week is spent thinking about
writing. I write a little any chance I get with bigger writing blocks on the
weekend.

Do you write in
huge bursts or have it planned? Which leads me to: Do you plot? Wing it? Or mix
it up?

NS: No planning. I write when I can, as fast as I can! I
don’t plot until after I’ve written a good bit. I generally have a sense of
beginning and end with the key scenes between.

MVF: This strikes as something you internalize (the
story)—I envy this. Yes I do.

What is one
quote you keep in mind when life gets tough?

NS: I
have two quotes. I say them daily!

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and
courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will
be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua
1:9

“People who risk nothing, do nothing, have
nothing, are nothing. They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot
learn, feel, change, grow, love, live. Chained by their attitudes they are
slaves; they have forfeited their freedom. Only a person who risks is free.” –Anonymous

MVF: Absolutely
beautiful. I love these. Thank you for sharing them.

Ok, for
fun—Favorite and why? Recipes encouraged.

NS: I’ve only recently started drinking coffee. It took
having four kids to break me down. My favorite drink is still steamed milk with
almond. It is like dessert. Warm comfort in a mug. This is my recipe:

10 oz. Whole milk

1 tsp Sugary substance (honey, raw sugar, or the fake
stuff)

¼ tsp Almond extract

Dash of nutmeg

Heat milk. Add the rest. Enjoy! Now I need to go make
one.

MVF:
I
do think I will!

Thank you so much for stopping by Nicki. it was a
pleasure and I hope you come by again.

GIVEAWAY: One book (ebook) will be given to one
commentator (Please put your email as: Name at whatever dot com). I will post
the winner in this blog: CONGRATULATIONS! Jennifer won the book! :)

Nicki--it's a true pleasure to have you on--!And thank you--to me Readers and Writers are a gift. ;) One I can enjoy daily!You are fabulous--and please keep writing!! (You realize this is me trying to make sure I get to read more? Yes, totally selfish on my part) *smiles*

The Hidden Races Series

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The Story Teller

About Me

I am a writer of Urban Fantasy and romance, with a love of strong coffee and cream for late night writing. I adore dark stories with anti-heros and determined heroines. I am represented by Victoria Lea from the Aponte Literary Agency.